Williams F1 and Mercedes-Benz partnership announced

More news from the Formula 1 world, it appears that Williams F1 and Mercedes-Benz have announced a long-term engine partnership to starts with the 2014 Formula 1 World Championship season.

This agreement will have Williams supplied with a Mercedes-Benz power unit, made up of an internal combustion engine as well as an energy recovery system. The power unit will be manufactured in Brixworth, UK, by Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains. Williams will still be responsible for producing its own transmissions.

This Williams-Mercedes deal will end the two-year partnership with Renault in which the French manufacturer has so far powered the Williams racing team to victory at the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix.

Sir Frank Williams – the founder and team principal of Williams F1 – said that he was delighted with this new partnership while acknowledging Renault’s efforts during 2012 and the current F1 season.

He continued to say that Mercedes-Benz has been one of Formula One’s most successful engine suppliers and Williams F1 believes that they will have a very competitive overall engine package.

Andy Cowell – Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains managing director – was likewise very proud to confirm the Williams deal. He continued to say that Williams is one of Formula One’s iconic teams and the German manufacturer is very excited to be working together towards a successful future under the new regulations.

The new agreement provides Mercedes-Benz with long-term stability to supply engines to at least two partners from the 2015 season onwards.

The thing about the new 2014 regulations is that they will require teams to shift from naturally aspirated 2.4-litre V8 engines to turbocharged 1.6-litre V6 hybrid power units. These new power units will also be required to achieve a thirty percent increase in energy efficiency in order to reach power outputs comparable to the current levels. The main goal behind this change is to use energy recovery systems capable of deploying ten times more energy than the current KERS.